Investing in active travel routes in Swale

Swale Borough Council will be investing £271,000 to help improve local transport networks and reduce congestion across the borough.

The council secured the funding from the Department for Transport (DfT) and Active Travel England, via Kent County Council, to undertake the first projects recently agreed in its Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP).

The money will be used to help encourage people out of their cars by exploring, designing, upgrading and building safer walking and cycling routes, and launching affordable bike schemes.

The focus of the project is to look into the possibility of new active travel routes, while also delivering practical improvements, across Sittingbourne, Sheerness, and Faversham.

By working to connect neighbourhoods to schools, workplaces, and local landmarks, the council aims to reduce traffic congestion and offer safe, healthy travel options.

Key projects include:

• Improvements to the existing route that connects Kemsley Station, Memorial Hospital, the Sittingbourne Rec and Fulston Manor School, which has approximately 1,300 pupils
• designing a route from Grove Park to South Sittingbourne to provide a crucial east – west connection between Grove Park Primary School, Westlands Primary School, Fulston Manor School, the Sittingbourne School and the Eurolink Business Park
• helping design the highways sections of the community-led Sheppey Light Railway Greenway, which follows the path of the former railway line that ran from Leysdown to Queenborough on the Isle of Sheppey
• construction work on Faversham’s North South Active Travel Route to create a safer junction at the Briton Road/Forbes Road and junction improvements at the Bramblehill Road/Upper Brent
• designing a route from Oare Road to Preston Avenue the new route will run across Faversham connecting Davington Primary School, Stonebridge Pond, Faversham Pools and the Faversham Rec

A portion of the funding has been set aside for new tools for the council’s Cycle-re-Cycle scheme.

HMP Swaleside prisoners refurbish unwanted bikes giving them the opportunity to upskill themselves and make a positive step towards rehabilitation - whilst saving bikes from the tip.

The scheme then provides Swale residents with affordable, environmentally friendly transportation, that helps them keep active and healthy for only £10.

The funding will also help create small bike libraries and bike storage spaces for ten primary schools in Swale.

These libraries will give pupils without a bike the opportunity to take part in bikeability sessions and potentially borrow a bike for a weekend.

Councillor Dolley Wooster, chair of the council’s environmental and climate change services, said:

“We want to make walking and cycling a safe, natural choice for everyone in Swale, and securing this national funding means we can deliver these improvements.

“If we can encourage more people to walk and cycle, we can not only help people improve their health, but we can also improve journey times for those who rely on their cars.

“By planning carefully and spending this time and funding on detailed design work, we can make sure the new routes genuinely work for local people.

“We are focusing on making school runs safer, easing local traffic, and helping residents stay healthy.

“As well as the junction upgrades and new paths, we are especially happy to be expanding our Cycle-re-Cycle scheme, which gives residents access to affordable £10 bikes while providing valuable rehabilitation skills to prisoners.”

The full walking and cycling plan, which was shaped by extensive public feedback to ensure it meets local needs, is available to read on the council’s website.

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